Six Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon are celebrating jubilees. Seated: Srs. Sharon Kirk, Paula Fox and Clare Vandecoevering. Standing: Srs. Marianne Giesel, Charlene Herinckx and Patricia Marie Landin. A celebration is set for July 30.

BEAVERTON — The Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon this month honor six women who have given a combined 350 years of ministry.

Sister Clare Vandecoevering will celebrate her 70th jubilee. Sisters Paula Fox, Marianne Giesel and Sharon Kirk will be honored for 60 years of service. Sisters Charlene Herinckx and Patricia Marie Landin will celebrate their 50th jubilees.

The jubilarians will be honored during a Mass and reception on Sunday, July 30, at 1:30 p.m. in the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon motherhouse.

An outdoor Mass and reflection honoring the special role of grandparents will be held at the Grotto plaza July 26 at 7 p.m. The Summer Twilight Retreat is an invitation to reflect on the lives of Sts. Anne and Joachim, the parents of Mary and grandparents of Jesus, pray for their intercession and celebrate the Eucharist with the Servite community.Wednesday, July 26, 2017

The Benedictine Sisters of Queen of Angels Monastery in Mount Angel are hosting an opportunity for the community to learn more about being an oblate. They’ll address what oblates are, what the word means, and what oblates do, among other questions.Tuesday, July 25, 2017

I guess I have a small confession to make. I went to the recent Convocation of Catholic Leaders held in Orlando, Florida, with very low expectations. I was unsure and somewhat skeptical about the intent and expected outcome of the event. I was pleasantly surprised, as was our local delegation.Tuesday, July 18, 2017

We are all familiar with the popular riddle, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” Although this riddle has no real answer, I would like to propose another riddle along the same lines that does have an answer: “Which came first, the archdiocese or the parish (or the school, or the Catholic institution, etc.)?”

Back in November, I told you how excited I was to be a part of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly, a gathering of 110 parishes and more than 300 people. It was truly a wonderful experience of what it means to be the Body of Christ in mission for the sake of the Gospel. The assembly set pastoral priorities for the next three years, including voicing a strong desire for the Church to continue to emphasize works of mercy in the spirit of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Wednesday, April 5, 2017

I guess I have a small confession to make. I went to the recent Convocation of Catholic Leaders held in Orlando, Florida, with very low expectations. I was unsure and somewhat skeptical about the intent and expected outcome of the event. I was pleasantly surprised, as was our local delegation.Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Faith communities are rediscovering the theology of hospitality and it is highly related to all of our ministries. We no longer lukewarmly welcome visitors, but enthusiastically expect them. Instead of simply trying to fit them in, we need to plan for the stranger.Wednesday, July 13, 2016